Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall has praised Sherman, but with a caveat.

“I definitely think he’s the best at what they want him to do, what they ask him to do,” Hall told 106.7 The Fan in D.C. on Tuesday. “To sit there and say he’s the best corner in the game is probably not fair because of what they’re defense asks him to do.”

What the Seahawks ask Sherman to do, according to Hall, is limited — and supplemented by other great

“They play a lot of Cover Three, but their Cover Three is predicated on their corners pressing,” Hall said. “All their linebackers still drop in coverage, obviously they have a heck of a rush, they have probably the best safety in the game; actually, two safeties, because I love Kam Chancellor.”

Hall doesn’t love Sherman.

“To say he’s the best corner in the game is a little bit, um, I guess screwed,” Hall said. “Because I love Patrick Peterson myself, personally, just things that guy does on the football field is just exciting. But you can’t deny Richard Sherman’s numbers. His numbers have been amazing.”

Hall thinks that Sherman needs to continue to produce numbers like that over an extended period time.

“In this league man, it’s all about longevity,” Hall said. “This guy’s been in the league I think three years. Like I said, he’s probably put together two of the best years I’ve ever seen, numbers-wise, but in this league, to be on Champ [Bailey’s] level, [Charles Woodson’s] level, even Ronde [Barber] when he played, it’s about longevity, it’s about being able to keep this going, being able to adapt to receivers, adapt to different schemes, and being able to play different schemes.”

Sherman does indeed benefit from having some incredible talent around him, but Sherman has plenty of talent, too. Whether he’s the best cornerback in the business will continue to be a subject of discussion and debate — and his performance in 2014 and beyond will be a major factor in determining whether he becomes and remains the best.

Only three CBs have started their careers as well as Sherman in the last 20. What more does this guy have to do?

Also, why is it that every player on the Seahawks is just good and would be great but they get support from the rest of the team. Russell isn’t that good it’s the scheme or Marshawn, Sherm isn’t that good it’s the scheme or the other players.

Pete isn’t coach of the year it’s the players, John Schnider isn’t exec of the year it’s the coaching. Lots of excuses.

What the Seahawks ask Sherman to do is lock up a receiver, take away one side of the field, make interceptions, and make big plays in key moments. All of which, statistically speaking, he does better than anyone in the league.

What’s Hall’s point again?

DB’s and WR’s, man. Ask any of them who’s the best in the game, they always say themselves. Ask any of them if someone else is the best, they always say no.

Hall isn’t the one to talk, but he does make a point. Their’s only a few players in the league that actually come out and say their the best at their position, which I find pretty arrogant because they should know that their are other players at their position who could match their skill set, and those players keep quiet and let their play do the talking, gotta respect that.

Irrelevant player on irrelevant team talking about another irrelevant player on another irrelevant team.

spoaktown707 says:Jan 28, 2014 8:25 PM

I’m not sure DeAngelo is qualified to make this assessment.
Now if the article was about a corner that gets burned left and right, or a corner that steals his paycheck and gets cut halfway through his first season with a new team, then I guess his opinion would matter.

taintedlombardis says:Jan 28, 2014 8:26 PM

There is also that whole “perfected the art of pass interference” thing. Thanks Gilbride. You said what the world needed to hear.

Sherman is awesome as hell, but he does benefit with a great supporting cast. Actually, all players do.
But remember when Revis was the next best shutdown? How long did that last, 2-3 years? Someone else will emerge that will be the flavor of the season, and Richard will be saying the same thing Hall or Revis says now. Circle of football life.

far from a sherman fanboy, but it’s hilarious that hall would talk about a corner’s ability to adjust to different schemes, when he is the posterchild for failing to do that and getting cut halfway through his first season of a big money contract. he couldn’t hack it as a press corner, and now he’s knocking sherman for being one?

“To sit there and say he’s the best corner in the game is probably not fair because of what they’re defense asks him to do.”

Are you guys really that ignorant of the English language. C’mon guys get a dictionary and stop looking like the three stooges. They’re instead of their, really. They’re is a contraction for they are. Third grade English. SMH.

A lot of people think the same dh think. Sherman doesn’t lock up the opposing teams best wr. He doesn’t even switch sides of the field. And he doesn’t play much man. He plays zone. Sherman is deserving of a probowl bid, he just won’t be considered a shut down corner till he follows other teams no1 wr all over the field, like Peterson Revis and hayden.

Against no1 was last year, Peterson was the top ranked cb. Most just wish Sherman didn’t act like a child and steal the light from his teammates.

CaJonMcChicken says:Jan 28, 2014 8:37 PM

When you’re good, you tell everyone how good you are. When you’re great, everyone will tell you how great you are – Walter Payton

kev86 says:Jan 28, 2014 8:38 PM

Top 5 is great.

doe22us says:Jan 28, 2014 8:41 PM

TY still thinks Sherman and the LOB or doom is overrated, care to dispute that??

johnnyoclock says:Jan 28, 2014 8:41 PM

Here’s a question. Why can’t we as a public just call out jerks for being jerks? What are we afraid of?

Not saying one must about Sherman, just asking in general because of his nonsense last week.
Look at all the protective wagon train circling with him when he acts like a loser.

Look at all the protective wagon train circling that happened when Dez Bryant was an childish idiot. I believe passion was the false protective term most used.

And look at the protective wagon train circling around Suh who should be kicked out of the league. I believe competitor is the phony protective word used most.

Why do people do this,what is so scary about simply telling the truth about a guy?

pagoclown says:Jan 28, 2014 8:43 PM

“Irrelevant player on irrelevant team talking about another irrelevant player on another irrelevant team.” – thevikesarebest

So, following such logic, what’s one to think of an irrelevant fan of an irrelevant team commenting on comments by an irrelevant player on an irrelevant team talking about another irrelevant player on another irrelevant team?

I played the position, this little loophole he is trying to provide would have some merit but it’s chicken before the egg. They don’t move any of those guys around, because they’re all good, but at the same time, they are able to get away with playing that very simple scheme BECAUSE they’re all individually good.

At any rate, Hall trying to interject himself into that conversation is laughable. Peterson benefits just as much, if not more so, from his front seven as Sherman does. What Peterson has is a half step more in burst and overall athleticism, but while Hall has become more HEADY in the past couple of years, he’s also lost a step or so. So there’s that.

Its subjective. Get it Hall? Don’t come talking when someone else is on top because you just look small. This is Sherman’s time. He will either make fans or haters but his play has been nothing short of the best in the league.

Many want to bash Hall’s play but he has had a long career. He is a great CB and I agree that Patrick Peterson might be the best but I never fault a guy who says he is the best and goes out and backs it up. Hall can start talking when his team starts winning more.

I love the people who say his safeties make him look better than he really is. in reality, it’s the other way around. Sherman locks his side down giving his safeties the ability to cheat a little more than if they didn’t trust the corner. All in all, they’re the best secondary in football and they all benefit from each other on the field.

And sorry Hall, in the 3 years that Sherman has been in the league, statistics say he’s the best. We all have our preferences and that’s understandable but to say it’s “screwed” to consider him the best when the numbers and performance prove that to be true is kinda, well, screwed.

All valid points but based on my own two eyes, I personally believe Sherman is the best CB in the NFL right now, love him or hate him. Not a SEA fan, either.

Also, it’s kinda hard for Hall to tell Sherman “prove it over the long haul,” then bring up Peterson, a player drafted the same year as Sherman.

damnskins703 says:Jan 28, 2014 8:56 PM

I’m sorrybD Hall but Mr Sherman is the best corner in the league, he shuts down opposing best WR. They don’t throw on him ever and when they do he picks it, numbers don’t lie check the stats I believe he had the least passes thrown his way but led league in picks. That sounds to me like the best lock down cover corner in the league. It sounds to me like D Hall might be a little bit jealous of the 3.9 GPA Stanford product

To be fair, Hall isn’t exactly the one to be suggesting to Sherman to maintain his play over the long haul.

And to be honest, I don’t see any reason why Sherman can’t continue his great play considering the amount of film studying, and preparation he puts into each and every game. Sherman has even said that those things are what makes him so good.

shotgunnoblitz says:Jan 28, 2014 9:01 PM

He talksa bout longevity right after talking up Peterson. But to call Shermans ability into question because of the scheme they run is ridiculous. The guys allowing nearly nothing to be completed against him.

You can talk about the pass rush and the scheme all you want, but when a qb tries to throw against sherman in 1 on 1 coverage, sherman has the edge. And thats what being a corner is all about. Beating the guy you are up against.

Talking about Peterson like hes a top CB. Golden Tate straight up balled all over him this season. Calling a guy the best, not even Megatron had a good time against sherman. You gotta beat the best to be the best. Peterson getting beat by the league average isnt the best.

There is also that whole “perfected the art of pass interference” thing. Thanks Gilbride. You said what the world needed to hear.
———–

Don’t get to pick and choose when you want to find him credible ha. This is the same clown who thought seven step drops were good with our offensive line. Keep hating, doesn’t refute the facts that they really do not hold any more than anyone else. Brandon Browner was the one who held a ton, not Sherman. The hater agenda just doesn’t work, so stop it.

There really isn’t any doubt in my mind that sherman is the best right now. But I also agree with hall which is shocking cause he can be a knucklehead. Anybody in the league would benfit from having thomas (the nest safety in the game imo) behind u. Guys like patrick peterson are bigger playmakers but sherman is the best right now. Guys like sherman, Peterson, keenan lewis all have that length and physicality to be a huge problem to oppossing wrs. The only thing I hate about praising sherman is somehow being bunched with their terribly obnoxious fans..

bensstinkyfingers says:Jan 28, 2014 9:49 PM

Joe Haden is better than this Sherman turd.

joparks2012 says:Jan 28, 2014 9:51 PM

So DH was on a program and they asked his opinion and he gave it. There wasn’t anything wrong with what he said. DH has been in the league for a while and he’s seen a lot of guys come and go. Right now Sherman is good but he needs a body of work. It really is something to be a top corner for a long period of time. There have been many that have put together a couple of great years and then they fall off. What DH is saying is that there is a difference between greatest of all time versus greatest now. In Sherman’s defense though, he didn’t proclaim himself the greatest of all time. He just said he was the best which left it open for everyone to infer the timeframe. BTW, many will rip DH because of his time with the Raiders but that was what 5 years ago? He has had some bad stretches for the Skins but last year, he was pretty effective and he was a good team player. Given his career and ups and downs, he’s fairly qualified to give his opinion on the subject.

Hall is a loudmouth as anyone. The difference is he’s not even a top 10 CB anyone and at his best a top 5. Maybe hall should look in the mirror find watch film on Sherman to see how a great CB is because he certainly isn’t one. He’s got the loudmouth part down but who cares what a mediocre CB on a crap team thinks?!

slaugin says:Jan 28, 2014 10:34 PM

You guys act like he just said Sherman is an over rated bum. He mentioned one guy tHe felt was better than Sherman right now and basically said reserves the right to say Sherms the best in the future. Furthermore he was asked the question on a Sports Talk Radio Show and than gave his opinion so what’s the problem?

I actually didn’t understand Hall’s “cover 3″ comment. I haven’t seen a Seahawks game this year either so I admittedly don’t know the defense.

Is he saying most of the time Sherman was pressing and covering the flat in a cover-3 scheme, or is he saying Sherman presses the receiver and still has responsibility all the way back into the deep third? That makes no sense to me because then the slot receiver could just get behind you.

I remember people saying Sherman wasn’t the best bc he isn’t allowed to follow the opposing teams top wr . Now apparently that’s transformed from he’s not the best db his team around him is so good . Almost the exact opposite meaning . Like his team being good enough to not switch before made him not elite and now that everyone knows they are good enough he’s not elite because the players around him are good ..

pretty much the exact opposite reason as before . Let’s be clear he’s the best cb in the league bc he’s smart . He’s not the most athletic cb that’s Hayden and Peterson . But they have games where they look lost and average .

You’ve never seen Sherman or Revis like that . Their too intelligent . Sherman better than revis mostly bc Sherman makes a lot more game changing plays . Both shut down players both are rarely targeted but one still has the stats of an elite bc whose been tested constantly ,only that he’s never tested and makes plays every time it seems .

At one point Sherman was averaging an int for every 6 passes into the season I think that was until week 6 or 7 . In November he was targeted 3 times all month .. 3 …

People love to hate him , but he’s great and despite most people assuming he’d be exposed by talking this odd season ,he did the exact opposite and solidified himself as the leagues premier Cb

Hall: Did you not read Sherman’s article on MMBQ? He already said he wasn’t athletic enough and if it were not for the pass rush and players around him his numbers would not be as high. You state what he has already stated, which makes your comments ignorant. Pathetic, worthless interview.

Nobody has mentioned cam chancellor or earl Thomas. Sherman was right; his antics took away from his teammates, because I would be horrified of stretching out for a pass if those safeties are on the field. This is the best secondary manning will face all year. can his receivers keep going over the middle knowing Thomas and chancellor are lurking? Put a helmet on those receivers early, and you’ll see denver struggle.

“What the Seahawks ask Sherman to do, according to Hall, is limited — and supplemented by other great”…….great?….great? Great what Mike? Jeez Florio, please proofread your work. I know you’re writing for a bunch of us lunk heads, but come on……

Right now Sherman is playing at as high a level at cornerback as any player in the league. He talks a lot. That’s his personality but so far he has backed up his talking with his play which I think is the most frustrating thing for his distractors. This isn’t Freddie Mitchell.. A no talent player prone to talking the talk and never walking the walk.

joetoronto says:Jan 29, 2014 4:56 AM

Most readers here have no clue what Hall is talking about, but they talk anyway.

It may look like Sherman plays man to man, but he rarely does. It’s almost always a Cover 3 and he almost always jams, but he has to peddle fast, because he’s responsible for the deep zone on his side.

I really didn’t think I’d ever agree with anything Hall had to say, but I was wrong.

D.H. is on point with his comment.. a C.B. position are based off schemes and tha scheme that Seattle uses.. Sherman is tha best @whut he does.. unfortunately as a redskin fan,D.H. is not tha best of whut he do,but he has an opinion like everyone else.. good work D.H. and u have been tha best C.B. on tha skins since tha great D.Green..

A great corner follows the opposing team’s #1 WR wherever he lines up. Sherman stays on 1 side of the field. Guy is nothing more than a glorified Namdi. Remember him? Revis was legit great cover corner before the injury. Only guy that has a chance to reach that level is probably Peterson

ringoflynt says:Jan 29, 2014 8:22 AM

He is good but he misses to many tackles. He isn’t even the best DB on the Seahawks but I do like him. Wish we had him on the Bills roster

Again, it is chicken before the egg and vice versa. Everything that Seattle does is a product of the individual players being good enough such that they don’t have to do hardly any disguising or gimmicky moving certain players around. That’s why they are able to play faster and run to the ball, because they know that the guys in front of them, beside them and behind them are going to go all out and handle their assignments.

The people who suddenly have an axe to grind with Sherman after the postgame are going to come here and bring up everyone under the sun, but it’s nonsense. People who have played the game — particularly the defensive backfield — even in high school, know that this is true. Saying Joe Haden is ludicrous. He got burned all year, including in the Pro Bowl. Patrick Peterson is getting by on superior athleticism, but his technique isn’t there.

And for those who talk about “holding,” that was Browner who held a ton, not Sherman. Get over it.

Most readers here have no clue what Hall is talking about, but they talk anyway.

It may look like Sherman plays man to man, but he rarely does. It’s almost always a Cover 3 and he almost always jams, but he has to peddle fast, because he’s responsible for the deep zone on his side.

I really didn’t think I’d ever agree with anything Hall had to say, but I was wrong.
————-

Rubbish.

They don’t play 3 hardly at all. As a matter of fact, the only time they even shift to that look is when they have a sub package in there, and that is rare. Seattle plays tons of man. It’s what they did for the entire 1st half vs. SF in the NFC Championship, and that’s why Kaepernick had room to roam with guys having their backs turned downfield. They went to 2 and 3 looks in the 2nd half, and had some joker looks with Irvin in order to confuse Colin with underneath passes, but other than that, it’s not true. Using a hater like Hall to augment your vendetta with Sherman is weak.

joetoronto says:Jan 29, 2014 10:15 AM

“Mr. Wright”: You are no more informed than the average 12 year old here.

A great corner follows the opposing team’s #1 WR wherever he lines up. Sherman stays on 1 side of the field. Guy is nothing more than a glorified Namdi. Remember him? Revis was legit great cover corner before the injury. Only guy that has a chance to reach that level is probably Peterson
————

That’s nonsense ha. That only happens when there is a weak link in the secondary, as was the case when Deion was in Dallas, but NOT when he was in San Francisco and stayed on his one side all year (and had the most INT of his career). Sherman and no one else in the secondary moves because they’re all good.

Shermy’s good – no doubt. Hall puts forward a very balanced assessment. While you always have to believe you’re the best to be the best, you don’t necessarily need to keep crowing about it as if you’re trying to convince yourself it’s true. Sherm’s great, and I hope he keeps it up. Also wouldn’t mind if he didn’t follow the “Primetime” model.

Seahawks and Sherman fan, I agree with DH. Sherman is playing the best right now for sure hands down. But once he gets paid and etc we will see if he only have 2.5 productive seasons or whatever argument is he was bet those 2 seasons.

Now i think he will continue success and will challenge Champ and Prime for GOAT at DB but he does need to sustain this.

Obviously he is not insulting Sherman he is just saying he like all of us want to see his career play out. DH is a great player Hawks fans lets not bag on him. This is a very sherman like comment and people should respect DH’s opinion.

cri33 says:Jan 29, 2014 1:57 PM

Ok fine. Lets call him one of the best corners in the league. Or you can call him a great corner. Whatever. He got the job done and now Seattle is in the SB. I would say that is all that matters at this point. And Angelo, it’s their defense, not they’re defense.

reecan says:Jan 29, 2014 2:37 PM

Nnamdi Asomugha was a great CB but lie Sherman has never won a SB… yet!

If the officials just call holding penalties like they are supposed to, then he is a very ordinary cornerback. He gets away with mugging the receivers more than any cornerback in this league. The guy has a lot of strength. If the officials allow him to hold and grab, then the receivers cannot get open. It is that simple.

Hall is basically right. I’m not sure why he used “screwed”, but the Sherman fans seem to be focusing on that rather than the content of what Hall said.

Basically, in the ESPN era, we have a tendency to believe the best player on the best team is the best player in the league at that position. Hall is saying that Sherman is a very good corner, but it helps that he’s surrounded by a great defense. Sherman has only been in the league for three years — it’s a little early for his Hall of Fame bust.

Now, why anybody outside DC cares what Hall thinks is the question. But this was a DC radio station asking him a question going into the Superbowl. Neither the question, nor the answer should be much of a surrpise.